Press Adverts Made Easy

Posted on February 5, 2014

Leaflets, flyers and brochures are a great way to market your business, but press adverts are also an important part of the marketing mix.

Ensure that your Brand remains protected in press adverts with the PDF download feature in BrandDemand.

This feature allows your users to personalise branded press adverts and easily download a PDF ready to send to a magazine or newspaper.*

What do I need to do?
Just send us a copy of the artwork you want to make available for press adverts, tell us which areas can be edited, and we’ll add a new template to your branded microsite for your users to edit and download.

Want to restrict access?
No problem, just tell us who is allowed to order the press adverts and we’ll make sure only they have access to it.

Try it today
This feature is included in the BrandDemand web-to-print system.   If you already have a system in place speak to your Client Service Team about adding press adverts.  If you don’t yet have a system, call us on 01 405 4775 to find out more or to arrange an online demo.

Review orders before print? You decide.

Posted on February 3, 2014

Hand-holding every print order is a hassle, but ever wish you could review some orders BEFORE they got printed?

The ‘Approval+‘ feature in the BrandDemand system lets you do exactly that. This nifty feature gives you the opportunity to double check and approve artwork before the order is immortalised in print.

How does it work? 
Users still place orders online in the usual way but instead of going straight to print the orders are routed to a nominated contact at Head Office. This contact will have the opportunity to double check the order before finally approving it for print.

Do I need to check every order?
No. This feature can be enabled for new or inexperienced users and disabled for experienced users who really understand your brand guidelines.

  How do I get this?
This feature is included in the BrandDemand web-to-print system.   If you already have a system in place speak to your Client Service Team about how you can enable this feature.  If you don’t yet have a system, call us on 01 405 4775 to find out more or to arrange an online demo.

Brand Alignment. How is yours?

Posted on February 3, 2014

A major survey by US firm Franchise Direct pointed towards the ‘Brand’ being the third most important consideration for prospective new franchisees.

Think about the journey of a prospective franchisee. How many of your franchises will they visit? What will their impressions be of your Brand? How consistent will your Brand appear from one franchise to another? This will certainly affect the number of franchises that you grant.

Branding is complex, but at its nucleus, consistency is paramount.

Sally Butters, Director of Media at Coconut Creatives supports this view: ‘Brand consistency is at the heart of every brand, no matter what the size or nature of the business.’

Uniformity across signage, packaging, web and printed marketing collateral is a challenge for any corporate, made more complex across a franchise network.

So where do you start?

Do the simple things first. Ensure the flyers, business cards, posters, leaflets, and brochures used across your network are consistent. Leave it to the franchise to choose a printer – the chances are your branding will become diluted. Conversely, centralise the print buying process and be burdened with bureaucracy.

Embracing web-to-print provides a way to manage brand alignment in printed collateral with little bureaucracy.

BrandDemand is a web-to-print solution that lets your franchisees get on and order their own on-brand marketing collateral. It also includes a suite of management tools to help you monitor the activity throughout your network.

To date, 30+ BFA members have adopted BrandDemand including many award winning franchise networks. Mark Llewellyn, Managing Director at Revive! comments: ‘Introducing the BrandDemand system was about getting better brand alignment across our network.’

Call us today to speak to someone about setting up a web-to-print system for your franchise network.

Are you utilising the power of direct mail?

Posted on June 21, 2013

Direct mail continues to be one of the most effective marketing tools for generating new business.

It can also be used to develop an on-going relationship with customers to maximise their loyalty, value and consequently, profitability over time. In this digital age when everyone is blogging, watching viral videos and updating social networks, why consider sending a humble postcard? Because it works. Professional marketers still believe in the power of direct mail and so should you.

• Mailing each month creates strong front of mind awareness.
• The more consistently mailers arrive the better the response will be.
• It’s estimated that a prospect must see a message nine times before they will decide to purchase. That’s nine impressions to build the credibility, confidence and trust needed to make a sale.
• Direct mail should be done alongside eshots, social media and not forgetting speaking to your customers directly, to really get your message across.

Join the thousands of different businesses who use Postcards to great success. To increase your response rate, follow this simple proven formula…

Get your customers’ attention ‘ Use a strong image or headline and our high-impact, high-gloss laminated Postcards will add emphasis.
Keep their interest ‘ Why are you contacting them? Highlight the benefits of your product or service, don’t just list features.
Create desire ‘ Think of a powerful, limited-time offer and make it hard for them to resist.
Give them a call to action ‘ What do you want them to do next? Call? Email? Visit? Tell them!

June is a great time to kick start your marketing with direct mail as Postcards are half price. Need help with design? Speak to your Client Service Team.

* FreshMinds research for Royal Mail ** Marketing Week â? Royal Mail

Give your marketing instant impact with Postcards

Posted on June 1, 2013

Postcards are perfect for Direct Mail

POSTCARDS are a proven direct marketing tool. The beautiful thing about postcards is that the recipient can’t avoid reading your message. Whether you’re mailing them, handing them out in the street or selling them, there’s nothing quite like a glossy postcard.

Follow these tips and join the thousands of different businesses who use postcards to great success…

DON’T GET STUFFED
Don’t waste time, folding, stuffing and licking envelopes. Postcard + address label + stamp = easy!

WORK YOUR MAILING LIST
Whether mailing existing customers or new prospects, the quality of your list will determine the success. Your beautifully crafted message is useless if it arrives in the wrong in-box or lands on the wrong desk. Out of date data can also mean that you waste money sending information to people who have since moved on. Refine your data for a more targeted campaign.

MAKE YOURSELF IRRESISTIBLE
Why are you contacting them? Think of a powerful, limited-time offer and make it hard for them to refuse.

SAY IT IN 5 SECONDS
Keep it brief. Write a clear, punchy headline which tells your message without confusing (we can help). You’ll get a better response if you make your Postcards look like a personal message rather than a sales promotion.

CREATE INSTANT IMPACT
Use a strong image or headline and our high-impact, high-gloss lamination will add emphasis.

SAY NO TO UNREAD MAIL
Even people screening their mail over a recycling bin can’t choose to ignore the message on your postcard.

TURN READERS INTO BUYERS
Give them a call to action. What do you want them to do next. Phone? Email? Visit? Tell them! Really spell it out: ‘call this numberâ?, ‘fill out this formâ? or ‘scan this QR Code”

SAVE 50% THROUGHOUT JUNE
Order Postcards during June and get them half price. Don’t miss the boat ‘ order today!

When is a Postcards not a postcard?
When you use them as…

• Comment Cards
• Refer-A-Friend Forms
• Mailers
• Surveys
• Feedback Forms
• Competition
• Price Lists
• Product Specs

5 Minute Workshop: Make your own QR codes

Posted on May 15, 2013

You can now create QR codes for your marketing straight from your BrandDemand portal.

Simply sign-in to your BrandDemand account.

Click on the Files & Images tab and enter the URL that you want to turn into a nifty QR code.

Files and Images tab in your BrandDemand portal

Type the URL to create your QR code

We’ll even save in in your Files & Images folder for you to use on any templates or artwork.

QR code in Files & Images
The description of the image includes the url that the code links to for future reference.

Files & Images List You could use a QR code on your business card to share contact details, or on a leaflet to link to a special offer. For more great ideas of how to use QR codes on your marketing, read our blog post Nowt so QR as Codes.

Nowt so QR as Codes

Posted on May 8, 2013

A what code? You may be unfamiliar with them, but over the last few years QR Codes have slipped into mainstream advertising, making them a viable business tool. A QR Code is just a barcode, like you’d find on your cereal box. But unlike the barcodes in supermarkets, QR codes are arranged in a ‘matrix’, which packs lots of information into a tight space. The QR stands for ‘Quick Response’ because they provide a fast way to access information. They connect people from print to digital media in just a matter of seconds, making printed materials truly interactive.

How do they work? Anyone with a smartphone such as an iPhone or Blackberry simply takes a picture of the code using a free app and their inbuilt camera. Their phone then triggers an action ‘ it could be a link to download content, some contact information, a message or a link to a website.

Why use them? Despite improved keyboards on smartphones, typing a long URL or website address on the move can be fiddly. Having to type in URLs prevents mobile users from accessing mobile content on a regular basis. When you consider that a typical web address consists of a mix of letters, colons, slashes, dots and dashes, it’s no surprise that keying them in quickly loses appeal. With a QR code, there’s no typing. Just point your camera at a code and an app reads it, switches to a browser and loads the page.

Where should I use them? QR Codes may appear in magazines, on signs, buses, business cards, shop posters, leaflets, t-shirts, ID passes and just about any object you can think of. Since the diversity of information that can be held within a QR Code is unlimited, the potential marketing applications for mobile barcodes is vast. The remarkable growth of mobile and smartphones (which are becoming a more and more popular way to access the internet) means this potential can be easily implemented.

Smart businesses are using QR Codes in smart ways. Retailers print them on receipts. Event producers employ them to provide exhibit information. Doctors and beauty salons use them to let people make appointments over their mobile phones. Print them on your business cards so people can create a contact record in their phone without typing a single thing. Even some TV shows use QR codes in the corner of the screen to provide additional information.

You may not have the same budget as a TV show, so what could you do? The only limit is your imagination (see some ideas right). QR codes are a great way to take part in a growing trend, position your business as forward thinking and produce useful information resources at the same time.

What info could a QR code contain?

• Product specifications and pictures
• Your contact details
• Offer terms and prices
• Event listings
• Competition rules
• A coupon or voucher
• Twitter or Facebook links
• A link to your YouTube video
• A map of your store location
• Link to your online brochure

Try putting a QR Code…

• On your business cards. Your recipient can save your contact details simply by scanning the code.
• On your marketing collateral. Got a big sale on? Direct customers to your special offers page.
• On the posters in your shop window so they can do the selling even when you’re not there.
• In your email signature, blog posts and online newsletters to capture a wider audience.
• In adverts and save on advertising space.
• On your invoices, to link people to your Facebook or Twitter page.

How do I create a QR Code?

You can create you own QR codes for FREE through your BrandDemand portal, see instructions here >>

Power dress your documents with folders

Posted on May 1, 2013

Our Fast&Few^Â® Folders are the perfect low-cost folder option for handing out at events or presenting documents in a professional way. If you frequently send quotations, estimates, tenders or proposals, Fast&Few^Â® Folders add a professional touch without breaking the bank.

Combine a versatile Fast&Few^Â® Folders with a set of adaptable inserts and you’ve got an Information Pack that creates a lasting impression.

Make the Information Pack fit the recipient, tailor the content of each pack to suit each client. Only interested in some of your products or services? Only include the relevant inserts. Got a new product or service? Add a new insert. Price change? Just print that insert again, rather than a whole brochure.

Our Fast&Few^Â® Folders and Fast&Few^Â® Gloss Leaflets can be ordered in quantities as low as 50 and are printed in a speedy 3 working days (or faster if required). Plus get them for half the usual price during May.

Create versatile folders with adaptable inserts

Here’s some ideas on how to make the most of our May offers.
Need more help? Contact your Client Service Team.

• Make your folder as versatile as possible by keeping the cover neutral.
• Matching inserts can be updated as and when you need them.
• Why not include an introductory letter to welcome your customers.
• Don’t forget the inside. Plenty of space for more photos and information.
• Remember to include your contact details.
• A price list is just one item you can include. Other insert ideas; order forms, invoices, enquiry forms, newsletters, quotations, work portfolios, proposals, products and services, company profiles, application forms, reviews and testimonials, information packs and press releases.

Spot the Opportunity with StarMarque

Posted on April 1, 2013

It’s not just magpies that love shiny things ‘ we’re all attracted to them. Diamond necklaces, new cars, crystal glasses. They never fail to get our attention. Increase your chances of getting noticed by adding glossy StarMarque highlights to your marketing material.

So what is StarMarque?

We all know that adding gloss lamination to an image increases the intensity of colours. StarMarque is a special process which only adds a gloss coating to selected parts of the image or document.

We start with a matt laminated item such as a business card, folder or thick flyer. The matt base provides a great contrast for the next layer ‘ a special hi-gloss varnish. This varnish is only applied to the areas you want, hence the commonly used name “spot varnish”Â.

The end result is a beautiful flyer or card with both gloss and matt areas. This has the effect of accentuating and drawing attention to the glossy part of the design. Ask your Client Service Team for colour charts to compare the difference.

Who’s using StarMarque?

Damson Restaurant

Lots of businesses are finding that adding StarMarque to their marketing material is giving it a lot more weight and presence. The gloss highlights provide an additional visual stimulus because of the varied textures on the single printed surface. This adds depth and impact and sets the perception of high quality in the eyes of the recipient.

If you’re selling a premium product or are trying to position your business at the upper end of your market, create a striking first impression with StarMarque Business Cards, Presentation Folders, Thick Booklet Covers and Flyers.

Steve Pilling ‘ Restauranteur, Damson @ BBC Media City says ‘Our award-winning restaurants offer modern British food and an extensive wine list, so it’s important our marketing reflects our brand… only StarMarque will do!â?

What works best?

StarMarque looks great added over the top of dark colours ‘ black, dark blue, purple, that kind of thing ‘ that’s where the contrast is greatest. On a light background, the highlights will be less visible and they’ll be practically invisible on white ‘ although that’s sometimes useful if you want to use it as a difficult-to-copy security feature.

Avoid using it over small text or small objects as there is little chance of it exactly lining up and that will be pretty noticable. Best to think of it entirely as its own design element and use it to enhance a piece, rather than simply putting it over existing elements.

What does it cost?

StarMarque is a high-end finishing option which is usually out of reach for most small businesses. It’s usually reserved for expensive marketing material and adding it would normally cost a small fortune. Not any more. With printing.com’s revolutionary techniques, you’ll share these high set-up costs with lots of other businesses and pay only a fraction of the normal cost. Get it for half price on selected products during April.

Ask your Client Service Team for free samples of StarMarque items, or for ideas on how they could help make your marketing even more effective.

7 Savvy Uses for Folding Business Cards

Posted on March 1, 2013

Your business card is your number 1 marketing tool and many peoples first introduction to your business. Make the most of the extra space on a folding business card and your customers will keep it in their wallet or purse and will always have your information at their fingertips. Here’s some ideas on how to utilise the space effectively.

Offers and Discounts
Folding business cards have plenty of space to include your contact details and a special offer or promotion ‘ Free consultation, 25% off your first order or buy one get one free.

Price Lists
A handy pocket size list of your services and prices will ensure your customers keep them close to hand, give them out two at a time, one for them and one to give to a friend ‘ ask for a referral.

Mini Portfolio
A picture speaks a thousand words ‘ use the extra space to include enticing product shots, show off your artwork or display your staff’s beaming smiles. You could also add your best customer testimonials.

Gallery
Show off your venue in full colour with smart photos that way they instantly recognise that they’re in the right place when they come to visit. Picture cards get attention and look great in high definition full colour.

Location Map
Just moved? Premises just off the beaten track? Make it easy for your customers to find you by adding a helpful map and directions. You could also include nearby bus routes, train stations or local landmarks.

Loyalty Card
Everybody loves getting something for free and your customers are no exception. Record with a stamp or pen on the business card after every purchase and reward your customers to keep them coming back.

Appointment Cards
Sick of clients missing their appointments? Use the inside of the card to fill in your client’s next appointment so they never miss a date, now they’ve got their appointment and your contact details at hand.

For more advice or design ideas, get in touch with your Client Service Team. Get Folding Business Cards for Half Price during March.

Folding Business Cards